The management of Ireland's Rosslare Europort has announced plans to transform the port into Ireland's offshore renewable energy hub, with an estimated investment of €200 million to realize the project. The plan includes building the port, its hinterland and the southeast into an Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) hub that could create up to 2,000 jobs.

According to Rosslare Europort, the port is ideally positioned to service the many offshore wind developments planned in Ireland and the Celtic Sea, most of which are within 100 nautical miles of Rosslare. The work required to build the port as a hub to support offshore wind projects includes the construction of a purpose-built wharf and berths, wharf storage and pre-built areas, and dredging of navigable waterways to a depth of at least 9 metres.

The hub project will also include the construction of a management control centre and management offices and facilities. The work will be in addition to work already outlined in the Rosslare European Ports Infrastructure Masterplan, which aims to transform the physical infrastructure of the port.

Rosslare Europort has started working towards becoming Ireland's ORE hub and has appointed expert advisers to bring the project into planning and a financial adviser to develop a detailed business case and financing package. An application was also submitted to the EU Connecting Europe Fund for 50% co-funding for research and programme design. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

Rosslare Europort said it is actively engaging with all potential developers who will be involved in offshore wind and has conducted a full investigation and engagement with them to understand industry requirements and gain support for the Rosslare project. A potential start-up facility, which could be offered at the port's Fisherman's Wharf by the end of 2023, which would provide the industry with some port capacity while the transition to the main facility is completed, has been discussed.Editor/XingWentao